“We Missed you Hissed the Lovecats”…. (Georgette pussy bow blouse)

Georgette pussy bow blouse

If you’re a fan of 80’s music then you’ll know the origin of my post title straight away…if not, have a listen to this by The Cure…Enjoy!  And the reason for the title is that the song kept going through my head all the time that I was sewing up my new kitty-print pussy bow blouse. Anyway, I digress…. I bought this fabric just over a week ago when I had the pleasure of meeting up with 24 other sewing enthusiasts from the wonderful Instagram community. After meeting for drinks and sweet treats in John Lewis Birmingham we spent the day fabric shopping around the city. The morning was spent around the rag market and Barry’s Fabrics and in the afternoon we were delighted to be treated to a tour around Pound Fabrics

This kitty print georgette came home with me (how could I resist!) and I couldn’t wait to make it up into a pussy bow style blouse for double the feline fun. I don’t usually dive so quickly into sewing projects, in fact, I often buy fabric with the intention of making a certain garment up, but then it sits in my stash drawers for so long that I end up changing my mind and making something totally different because trends have changed! Tell me I’m not the only one who does this!

So apart from getting this georgette fabric and a few other goodies(to be shown in upcoming blog posts) I managed to snag a couple of free patterns and one of them was Simplicity 2406. I decided to use view C as a base for my blouse and I did one or two alterations to the pattern as follows:

  • I lengthened the sleeves from ¾ to full length.
  • I Raised the neckline at the back and raised my sleeve heads to match. I often need the extra length of armholes at the back to accommodate my high neckline and forward/rounded shoulders, but I also wanted the neck higher for attaching the pussy bow tie neck.
  • I also made a small bound keyhole shape at the front of the neck.

For this fine, sheer fabric I used Schmetz Microtex 70/10 needles in my machine and I found that it stitched up like a dream with no puckering and no pulled threads in my fabric. I’d also decided I wanted an ultra clean finish and small seams on the inside throughout, so I made each seam a French one and I found it such an enjoyable process doing the two rows of stitching for each seam.

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406. Necktie detail.

The long necktie is cut on the straight of grain and as I hadn’t quite got enough length of fabric to cut just it in two pieces with a centre back seam, I ended up having a section of fabric that spanned across the back of the neck as well. I also decided to cut this back section on a slight curve so that it hugged my neck nicely. You can see it on this photo and you can also see the binding that I put on around the front keyhole shape.

I wanted the hem of my blouse to be equally fine to match the vibe of the small french seams, so I did a narrow hem using a technique taught to me by my mother a very long time ago and it’s mentioned in the instructions of some of the classic Vogue patterns in my collection. So, first of all, you fold up and press about a half inch or so of fabric at the hem. Then you stitch close to the fold. The next step is to trim quite close to this row of stitching…be very careful not to cut the main body fabric. Finally, you fold back and stitch as you go, the second row of stitching. The result is a very fine hem that looks sharp, neat and narrow. The very last step of my blouse was to stitch a channel at the lower edge of both sleeves and thread narrow elastic through for a nice bloused gathered sleeve.

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406. How to sew a narrow hem

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406. How to sew a narrow hem

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406. How to sew a narrow hem

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406. Hem detail

Georgette pussy bow blouse Simplicity 2406 “It’s time for my meal mum!”…

Georgette pussy bow blouse

The loose fit and raglan sleeves make this a very comfortable blouse to wear and perfect for the weather we’re getting in the UK now.

Oh, and by the way, just as a side note…the jeans I’m wearing in the photos are some I’ve had for a while (from Next) and I’ve actually tucked a load of fabric up under the hem to make them look shorter…I think I’ll hem them like this to jump on the cropped and slightly flared trend that is popular now because I’m really liking this shorter look 🙂

Finally… and last but not least I think I should thank my co-star Bilbo for being such a natural in front of the camera!

‘Til next time….

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Georgette pussy bow blouse

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12 Comments

  1. April 5, 2017 / 2:55 am

    Beautiful blouse, love the tie.and your cute cat.

    • Diane G
      April 5, 2017 / 6:51 am

      Thanks Lori, I think I’ll enjoy wearing it. Bilbo thanks you too 🙂

  2. April 5, 2017 / 11:48 pm

    How lovery! I LOVE the kitty printed fabric (i am a cats lover!). It goes well with the jeans too:)))

    • Diane G
      April 6, 2017 / 7:13 am

      Thanks Eli Cat! Quite a lot of sewists gave cats don’t they? A cat print is perfect for us 🙂

  3. Karie
    April 6, 2017 / 1:14 am

    Bilbo is adorable, and I think he loves your blouse (I know I do!)! I do the same ting with fabric; buy it with the intention of making something and then end up making something else with it a year (or two) later.
    Thank you for the detailed instructions – I’ve never sewn french seams, but they seem like they’d be perfect for a lightweight blouse.

    • Diane G
      April 6, 2017 / 7:18 am

      Bilbo’s quite the star isn’t he Karie? I’m glad you like my blouse and that I’m not the only one that buys fabrics and ends up making something completely different from what was originally intended. You should give french seams a go, they’re so nice to work on.

  4. Sew Sarah Smith
    April 6, 2017 / 9:27 pm

    I love your blouse; such a cute print – in fact I bet you were feline just fine wearing it! 😃

    • Diane G
      April 7, 2017 / 6:52 am

      Haha! You’re so punny Sarah 😀 I pleased to hear you like my blouse!

  5. April 28, 2017 / 6:34 am

    I love your Pussybow blouse! I’m currently making the Sew Over It pussybow blouse and if it in any way resembles yours I’ll be delighted! I really liked your instructions for the ultra thin hem and I think I’ll try this method for my blouse 🙂 I really enjoyed reading this!

    • Diane G
      April 28, 2017 / 8:48 am

      Thanks for stopping by Charlotte 🙂 AndI ‘m chuffed that you love my blouse and that you found the hem instructions handy. I look forward to seeing your blouse too!

  6. Joan
    November 21, 2023 / 4:29 am

    Love this blouse, Diane: the fabric is charming! I’m a cat lover, as well. And thank you for the great detail and photos on the baby hem — much appreciated!

    • Diane
      Author
      November 21, 2023 / 10:16 am

      Thank you, Joan. It’s a favourite technique of mine.
      Sadly the blouse is long gone. It was polyester chiffon and cling to me like crazy which got tiresome very fast.

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